The Broncos’ starting defense hasn’t faced much of a challenge from opponents this preseason. On Saturday night, the biggest hits Denver’s defensive players leveled were against each other.

Linebacker Todd Davis and cornerback Aqib Talib engaged in a heated pushing and shouting match in the first half at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, an argument that extended from the field onto the sideline.

The altercation began when Broncos and Packers players were shoving after a play. As Talib attempted to pull Davis away from a Packers player, Davis took exception. He removed his helmet and shoved it into Talib’s chest. The two traded shoves before teammates intervened. Their argument moved to the bench as they continued to yell at one another. Broncos coach Vance Joseph intervened and attempted to calm Davis.

On the next defensive series, Talib returned to the field and Davis remained on the sideline until returning to the game midway through the series.

Players downplayed the incident after the game.

“Just a miscommunication, man,” Talib said. “I was just trying to calm him down. Nothing serious. We’re all good.”

“It’s just two competitive guys trying to win games,” nose tackle Domata Peko said. “It’s just that competitive nature coming out. It’s no big deal. That kind of stuff happens all the time in the NFL.”

Broncos injured. Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (groin) and defensive end Zach Kerr (knee) were both injured in the first quarter and did not return to the game.

Safety Will Parks suffered a hip injury in the second quarter that knocked him out of the game.

Thomas appeared to suffer his injury on a third-down pass from Trevor Siemian that sailed over the outstretched wide receiver and into the arms of Green Bay safety Kentrell Brice, who returned the interception to the Denver 2-yard line.

Kerr appeared to suffer his injury when he was rolled up from behind by his teammate, safety Darian Stewart. The Broncos can not afford more injuries on the defensive line. They are already without defensive ends Derek Wolfe (ankle) and Jared Crick (back). They lost defensive tackle Billy Winn for the season with an ACL injury he suffered in the preseason opener against Chicago.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) celebrates his sack with defensive back Will Parks (34) after sacking Rogers during the first quarter on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Green Bay Packers defensive back Kentrell Brice (29) runs back his interception on Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian during the first quarter on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) and Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews (52) chat during a timeout in the first quarter on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Green Bay Packers running back Ty Montgomery (88) gets past Denver Broncos defensive tackle Adam Gotsis (99) for a big gain during the first quarter on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) hits a hole in the Denver Broncos defense during the first quarter on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph during pregame prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) hands off to running back C.J. Anderson (22) during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson (22) gets wrapped up by Green Bay Packers cornerback Damarious Randall (23) during the first quarter on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 26: Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) gets tripped up by Green Bay Packers cornerback Quinten Rollins (24) during the first quarter on August 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 26: Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) throws a pass as he gets pressure by Green Bay Packers defensive end Mike Daniels (76) during the first quarter on August 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos running back Jamaal Charles (28) picks up a few yards during his carry in the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) look on during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph and Denver Broncos running back De'Angelo Henderson (33) stand for the national anthem before the game against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws a pass downfield against the Denver Broncos during the first quarter on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) is brought down by Denver Broncos defensive back Will Parks (34) and inside linebacker Todd Davis (51) after a gain during the second quarter on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) can't haul in a pass from quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) as Green Bay Packers cornerback Quinten Rollins (24) defends on the play during the second quarter on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos running back Jamaal Charles (28) picks up a few yards against the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) picks up some yards after a catch during the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos defensive end Shelby Harris (96) and inside linebacker Brandon Marshall (54) wrap up Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) for no gain during the second quarter on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos defensive end Shelby Harris (96) celebrates his sack with defensive tackle Adam Gotsis (99) on Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Hundley (7) during the second quarter on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Hundley (7) avoids Denver Broncos defensive end Shelby Harris (96) as he scrambles out of the pocket during the second quarter on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Hunter Sharp (17) picks up a few yards after his catch as Green Bay Packers cornerback Lenzy Pipkins (41) comes in for the tackle during the third quarter on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos wide receiver Hunter Sharp (17) goes up for a quarterback Kyle Sloter (1) pass for a touchdown in front of Green Bay Packers cornerback Lenzy Pipkins (41) during the third quarter on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) celebrates his sack with defensive back Will Parks (34) after sacking Rogers during the first quarter on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Sloter (1) fakes the hand off to Denver Broncos running back De'Angelo Henderson (33) during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Hunter Sharp (17) goes up for a quarterback Kyle Sloter (1) pass for a touchdown in front of Green Bay Packers cornerback Lenzy Pipkins (41) during the third quarter on Aug. 26, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

She said yes! Broncos offensive tackle Menelik Watson won’t soon forget Saturday’s preseason game. In the second half, after Watson had exited the game, he went to a knee and proposed to his girlfriend, Azania Stewart, who was sitting in the first row of the stands.

For the record, she said yes.

“I’m so excited,” Stewart, a basketball player for the Great Britain national team, said in a television interview. “I didn’t know anything. He surprised me.”

Fight night. Broncos players hurried to the locker room after Saturday’s game ended. They had a fight to watch.

Throughout the locker room, TVs above players’ lockers were showing the megafight between Floyd Mayweather and Connor McGregor. Players changed with their eyes glued to the fight and some angled their postgame interviews to the brief periods in between rounds.

The shouts in the room suggested a pro-Mayweather crowd, and players in all corners of the room erupted in celebration when Mayweather scored a technical knockout to move his record to a perfect 50-0.

“It was great, man. It was great,” Talib said. “I knew what was going to happen. I knew (McGregor) was going to get tired. You could watch my Twitter posts and I told you what was going to happen. I called it.”

Scavenger hunt. Ahead of Saturday’s preseason game between the Broncos and Packers, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers hit the streets to leave tickets for fans in downtown Denver. Rodgers left not-so-subtle hints to the tickets’ locations by posting photos from his tour of the 16th Street Mall on Twitter and Instagram.

Nicki Jhabvala is the lead Broncos and NFL beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving at The Post in 2014, she spent nearly two years as a senior staff editor at The New York Times and five years at Sports Illustrated.

More in Denver Broncos

Six seasons of fighting onto rosters and into starting roles caught the eye of the Broncos, who believe Case Keenum's mentality will be contagious in the locker room and his skill will stabilize an offense in disarray.